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Summary: This really helped!
Review: I am not a big believer in alternative medicine, but after an MRI showed a ruptured L-5 disk, (and the doctor suggested surgery)I chose to explore other options. Luckily, my internet search led me to Amazon's reviews of Dr. Brownstein's book and I decided to try his methods before pursuing surgery. I can only say that the results are miraculous! After six months of mild to excruciating back and leg pain, I am now 95% pain -free; off all painkillers; and I've resumed walking 3.5 miles daily. The idea of these simple stretching exercises as a "cure" seems so far-fetched to me that I can only urge back-pain sufferers to give this a try! I felt significant results in a matter of days! Thank you, Dr. Brownstein (and Amazon, too!)
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Summary: sherri , reader with back and neck pain
Review: I got this book as a gift and i think after reading it" only if it was that easy to forget about your pain!" I think the book tells us the strong link between the mind and pain but doesn't offer anything new when it comes to solving the problem of pain through exercises which 99% of todays experts say is the best solution to back or neck pain. Invest in an updated book that tells you how to exercise anywhere.
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Summary: First real help I found for chronic back pain.
Review: I happened upon this book after six frustrating months of trying to find a medical solution for pain resulting from a herniated disk. I had been to numerous specialists and tried physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, any number of drugs, and even excrutiatingly painful epidural steroid shots in a search for pain relief. I was so debilitated, I couldn't drive and was having trouble taking care of myself. I gave this book a shot with little hope of help. I started with the book's suggested program of gentle stretching and very short walks. Six months later, I have my life back. I am lifting weights, doing Pilates and walking (vigorously) an hour a day. I have never felt better. When my back hurts now, which it still does when I overdo it, I just get back on this program.
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Summary: The Mind Body Program
Review: I have been suffering from back pain for a long time and was treated by different doctors with exercises, medication and massage. I was not getting any better. Then I chanced up on this book and I knew I had a winner in my hand. Exercises are easy to follow and are very effective. I have been lucky to read his detailed explanations for neck and back pain.
I already started applying these principles with my own well-being by giving up my coffee habit. I drink a product I found on the net made from soya beans and it's not only delicious but good for you too. You can find them at www.s o y c o f f e e .c o m.
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Summary: lee,lee
Review: I try to read as much as possible on back pain and related information as often as possible and this book had alot of info but nothing new or progressive as in today 2005. If you suffer from back pain and want to exercise your pain away I can strongly recomend the Backsmart fitness plan by Dr. Weiss, I was lucky enough to go to one of his seminars in New York and learn more in one hour than my entire time workingout with personal trainers and therapist. I am happy to see he has written this book, if you are unable to go to one of his seminars pick up this book!
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Summary: Art Brownstein's program works for me!
Review: I would give this book 6 stars if I could. The yoga-based exercises Dr. Brownstein describes and illustrates so clearly saved me from the expense, pain, and risk of a lumbar laminectomy to remove a synovial cyst at the right L4/L5 facet joint. I didn't even know I had a back problem until I had an MRI this spring. All my symptoms were in my legs and hips, beginning with intermittent pain and numbness a few years ago, then progressing to fairly severe sciatica last fall. I was not incapacitated, but just moving around for daily activities was at best unpleasant. It was not fun to have severe cramps in my gluteus, along with sharp, shooting pains down the backs of my legs, and numbness in my toes and soles of my feet. I was advised that surgery was the only long-term solution. I attended Dean Ornish's Preventive Medicine Retreat in mid-April, 1999, where I met Dr. Lee Lipsenthal, and asked him if he had any knowledge about lumbar cysts. He strongly recommended Dr. Brownstein's book. Participants in the Retreat were given some instruction in Yoga, but Dr. Lipsenthal said Dr. Brownstein gave many more stretches aimed specifically at relieving back pain by developing better muscular conditioning. I consulted a surgeon on April 20, and scheduled a lumbar laminectomy for May 17. I bought a copy of Healing Back Pain Naturally on April 22, and began practicing the Yoga positions. On May 3, I was still having significant pain. I could not carry a box of newspapers weighing 25 to 30 pounds out to my curb for recycling without stopping to take the weight off my spine. I started doing the stretches twice a day for about 45 minutes each time. The following Sunday, May 9, I carried six 50-pound sacks of salt from my car to my water softener and poured them into the softener - WITH NO PAIN OR DISCOMFORT. I continued the twice-a-day regimen, and decided on May 11 to cancel the laminectomy. As a scientist, I find it difficult to believe that something so simple can have such a profound, immediate effect. But I am almost completely free of symptoms, and those I have left are mild and confined to my right leg. Nothing, including the program recommended in this book, will work for everyone. But if you have back problems, buy a copy, pay careful attention to the disclaimer at the beginning, consult your physician, and, if your physician approves, try Dr. Brownstein's recommendations, including those on diet and stress reduction (the latter are essentially the same as Dean Ornish's program). No other book I have read has so powerfully affected my life.
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Summary: a complete program for you and your back
Review: I've suffered with painful muscle spasms for over 2 years. This is by far the most helpful book I've read. By following the excercises and stretches in this book, and by embracing the mind-body relationship to learn to deal head-on with chronic back pain, I have decreased my back pain in just 6 short weeks. Dr. Brownstein writes in a conversational and sympathetic way, having suffered chronic back problems himself. Don't give up on your pain until you read this book!
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Summary: All orthopedic surgeons should be forced to read this book
Review: If your back hurts a little or a lot, try this book. It is very helpful, to the point, no non-sense. I tried physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs and was ready for cortizone injections because the pain was still bad (all recommendations of my back specialist, which I saw for 3 months). After a week of doing 45 minutes of daily stretching shown in this book, I felt a lot better. In two weeks, I quit the drugs. I am in my fourth week, almost pain free, feeling great and starting to exercise again. Thanks, Dr. Brownstein!
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Summary: Meant to add this to my review
Review: In martial arts where back and knee injurys are all to common. This book is as close you can get as a first aid for your back. Art Browstein may not have the martial arts in mind, but this book worked so well, that it might as well be written for martial artist. There are many books written about how to take care of your back...yet every single one I read requires me to have a medical dictionary handy. Dr. Brownstein books is written in a manner, that anyone, even a 4 year old can truly understand what he is trying to share to us. To Dr, Brownstein...we thank you for sharing such wealth to us !
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Summary: I have my life back!
Review: The words echoed in my ears, "you need three (3) fusions immediately!" To tell the truth, I was so frightened by what the Doctors were telling me, that I began to feel histerical. I had originally gone to the Doctor because of an unrelenting pain that seared down my right leg and exploded into my upper right foot. I also had incredible pain in my hips and lower back. All of this was just an ongoing problem that I had experienced for years but had exhilarated just recently. I did have the MRI done and then the nightmare began. As Dr. Brownstein says, "The medical community has gotton too good at showing us all the ugliness within our bodies." And with that information, they encouraged me into full blown back fusion surgery. Being a Metaphysical Student I just knew that there must be a better solution for me. During that week, a local talkshow host had Dr. Brownstein scheduled to be on the air with him. I learned about this and listened intently. I bought the book - read it - and began the first series of exercises. I told all five Doctors that I didn`t have anything to lose if I did this first, after all, I could always have the surgery. Within one month, I was feeling 40% better,and within another month I was almost 90% better. I`m not saying it was easy as it will be an ongoing process the rest of my life, but I can live a pretty normal life without pain. I walk four miles a day - swim for 35 minutes and stretch and strengthen by back with the exercises. It`s a good life and I thank God that I had the opportunity to fine the book and learn about this alternative before the three fusions. Needless to say I give this book five stars because it has truly given me my life back. THANK YOU Dr. Brownstein!
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